How to Print on Store Bought Invitations

When getting party invitations ready, you can either make your own or use store-bought invitations. A third option allows you to combine the best of both worlds: You can buy pre-cut, blank invitations with matching envelopes and then print your own verse or information. Local stationary and online invitation stores offer a variety of theme- and design-printable invitation options, which can be less expensive than buying professionally printed ones.

Things You'll Need

Pre-cut invitation cardstock

Pen and paper

Ruler

Computer

Word processing program

Printer

Scissors

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Measure the cardstock and border using a ruler. Mark down the width and height of the invitation. If the invitation has a pre-printed border or design, measure and write down how much of a margin the design covers. You’ll need these measurements to setup the page size and margins in your word processing program so you can print the party details.

Choose the wording or invitation verse. Write out your party details making sure to cover the who, what, when, where and why details.

Adjust printing setting. Open a new file in your word processing program and select the page layout. A box should pop up where you can change the page measurements. There should also be a box for the margin setting. If your invitation has a margin, be sure to adjust the margins as well, so your text does not print on top of the border or design.

Add verse. Select the icon that allows you to center the text on the page so your verse prints in the center of the invitation. Type in your verse and choose the ink color and font style you feel best suits the style of your invitation.

Cut and run a test invitation. Trace the outline of your invitation onto a plain piece of paper and cut it out. Print your invitation verse on the test invitation. Carefully review the test invitation to see if any changes or adjustments need to be made before you print onto the store-bought invitations.

Print invitations. Once you have the text finalized, print the required number of invitations by feeding one piece of cardstock into your printer at a time to avoid paper jams and ink smearing.

Tips & Warnings

Buy more pre-cut invitations than you need to allow for printing mistakes.
Check your printer instructions to make sure it can print on invitation-grade paper, which is thicker than normal printer paper.
As each invitation prints, set is aside to dry so you don't smear the ink.